​Elder Tree - Ruis

Bruce Clifton

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Elder Tree - Ruis

​Pronunciation: roo ish - roo ich - roo ee ch
Moon Phase: 13th Moon of celtic calendar (Samhain to November)  
Moon Name:   Dark, Snow, Tree moon
Letter: R
Title: Shrub
Height: (mature) up to 33ft 10mtr.
Influence:   Masculine
Age: 1 generation
Legend:  The Crone, (Hylde-Moer (European dryad, tree mother)) Re-Birth, Wisdom
Deity: Branwen
Element: Air
Chakra: Heart
Aura: Green / Pink​
Medicinal Qualities of the Elder Tree:  cures headaches, encourages labour, leaves and bark with berries can be made into a poultice to cure all skin conditions, leaves and flowers help with hot flushes, intoxicating.
Totem Entities: Badger, Hare, White Eilid, (ee lid) The Crone, (Dryad Queen) Tortoise, Turtle,

The meaning of the Elder Tree is one of eternal re-birth, infinite wisdom and life after life.

Just as "old hag" is a part of the Blackthorn, The Crone is a part of the Elder, she is an older woman who is beyond child bearing years. She carries the wisdom of older women and is capable of the love only a grandmother can give. To invoke the wrath of The Crone is to be disrespectful or to take without asking. She will give willingly all of the healing she can give but only if she is treated accordingly.

This tree is known as the 13th tree and the tree of misfortune and death but before death there must be life and at the end of life comes death. The Birch tree follows this one with the significance being new ventures, new life or new beginnings. The Elder is representative of the end and also new beginnings, no part of this tree should go to waste, every part of it can be used a dozen times over, if it is used wisely.

The Isle of Anglesey is known as the mother of wales, it is a soft, flat and gentle isle and notoriously known as the last place of the Prydain Druid. Such was their belief in the Elder that can grow new branches from broken, and almost regrow if uprooted. The druids courage and lack of fear was because of their belief in rebirth, because they knew they would live again. As the main occupiers of the Isle of Anglesey the druids left the Elder as a reminder of their time there. A fitting epitaph to be spoken to.

One of the more famous druid groves who had followers running into tens of thousands was the "Ohn and Ruis" grove from Anglesey. This was the grove of Branwen that was adopted into the grove of Beli Mawr on her death. Boudicca (Boadicea) was adopted by this grove from birth and went on to lead it through the roman invasion. Braughing and Maldon (Essex) are also known places for this grove developing. Ohn is pronounced "on-err" and is today recognised in the English language. "Honour"
 
With it's hollow branches and twigs, many a child has made a whistle from this tree. A fallen branch will almost certainly be hollow, by placing your small finger over the end and with a couple of notches cut out for air holes a good tune can be made from nothing in minutes.

The badger is the last of the bear family and with ancestoral wisdom has become respected across the animal kingdom as an elder. Badgers hospitality is extended to many, including the hare. The hare is known as a shapeshifter, is known to lead others to the other side. Many a shaman has used the bore hole of badger, burrow hole of the hare to explore other worlds, for healing or soul searching or astral walking. The Eilid when seen is solitary she will stand at the edge of the forest to lead you to the other side.

Ogham Tree Lore

Bruce Clifton

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